Year: 2017

  • Discussing Malicious Website URLs On Twitter

    Discussing Malicious Website URLs On Twitter

    Introduction I have recently come across an issue where good people wish to convey information about malicious websites to everyone. They’re doing very good work tying to keep us all safe and informed by discussing malicious website URLs (Universal Resource Locators), particularly on Twitter. Unfortunately Twitter creates a link in the text to anything looking…

  • Removing Block Paving Moss From My Driveway

    Removing Block Paving Moss From My Driveway

    Introduction I recently spent half a day removing block paving moss from my driveway. The paving, laid in 1993, has been cleaned more than once but moss soon grows under damp conditions. Because the blocks have a chamfered edge there is a V shaped recess at the junction between blocks. This is a space where…

  • I Found A Common Toad Hiding Behind My Shed

    I Found A Common Toad Hiding Behind My Shed

    Introduction During the 39 years I’ve lived at this house I have seen several frogs and toads passing through the garden. I was never able to say any actually lived here. Well now (6th October 2017) I’ve found a Common Toad hiding behind my shed and living here. Note: This Common Toad1 is also known…

  • Mains Safety Issues With Extension Cables & 13 Amp Plugs

    Mains Safety Issues With Extension Cables & 13 Amp Plugs

    Introduction There are three mains safety issues regarding extension cables and 13 amp plugs covered in this post which are: UK 13 amp plugs have mains safety issues where sockets can become dangerously exposed. I came across it by chance when I landed on the PlugSafe site. I’ve linked to their site in this post…

  • Unblocking A Blocked Toilet

    Unblocking A Blocked Toilet

    Preface This post describes: How to clear a blocked toilet and includes how to remove the trap water so it can safely be disconnected from the sewer without spilling anything. As you can see I’ve censored the featured image for this post. I decided somethings are best left to the imagination. Imagine the water level…

  • What Is A Retractable Clothes Washing Line?

    What Is A Retractable Clothes Washing Line?

    Introduction Consider the benefits of having a retractable clothes washing line: Coiling it up in a box keeps it clean. If you have a nice vista you won’t want it permanently scared with one or more lines cutting across it.

  • Retractable Clothes Washing Line Repair

    Retractable Clothes Washing Line Repair

    Introduction What is a retractable clothes washing line? Find out here. Generally I have found retractable clothes washing lines very useful. They mainly keep the line clean so that it doesn’t dirty the washing pegged out on it. My problem has been breakage. I have had them break because they are not capable of taking…

  • Radio Controlled Wall Clock In My Shed

    Radio Controlled Wall Clock In My Shed

    Introduction I have for some time wanted a reliable time piece outside my house. I don’t actually require an exact time outside anymore than I do elsewhere, but I do need to get the grass cut by teatime. So, I have acquired a Radio Controlled Wall Clock for my shed. I have had the difficulty of…

  • Railway Experiences I’ve Had At Home and Abroad

    Railway Experiences I’ve Had At Home and Abroad

    Introduction I think people who search for articles and pictures of railway experiences are usually keen to see them all and not miss any. To help them I have written this short post to bring all my articles together so they can be easily found. I have already written several posts about my railway experiences and there…

  • Securing Shed Doors

    Securing Shed Doors

    Introduction In 1997 both of my sheds were burgled. I thought I’d made them secure enough. I’d used hasps with the thickest staples I could find on the market (similar to these) and disc padlocks with hardened shackles. But the burglars cut through each staple in two places making a gap through which the padlock shackle…

  • Making A Condensation-free Bathroom Mirror

    Making A Condensation-free Bathroom Mirror

    This post describes how to make a condensation-free bathroom mirror using an automatic mirror heater. Without a heater it would be impossible to use the mirror without first wiping it with a cloth. With an active mirror heater, it’s possible to get straight out of a bath or shower and use the mirror immediately.

  • Making An Insulated Loft Trapdoor

    Making An Insulated Loft Trapdoor

    Introduction I recently had a ground floor extension built which required access to the loft space in the pitched roof to provide and service pipes and cables. So I asked the builder to create an insulated loft trapdoor. I made it clear that it should not just be a sheet of MDF or plywood. It must have thermal insulation…